Swimming device



Oct. 22, 1963 T. E. THOMPSON 3,107,371

SWIMMING DEVICE Filed July 16, 1962 United States Patent 3,107,371SWIMMING DEVICE Thomas E. Thompson, P.0. Box 6, Morley, M0. Filed July16, 1962, Ser. No. 210,026 5 Claims. (Cl. 9-303) This invention relatesto a swimming device, and more particularly to a novel device adapted tobe attached to the forearm of a swimmer for improving his efficiency.

Although swimming devices of various types have been developed forattachment to the hands and feet in order to assist the swimmer indeveloping more propulsion through the water, these devices, andparticularly the devices adapted to be attached to the hands orforearms, have serious functional limitations.

'It is therefore an object of this invention to overcome theselimitations by providing a novel swimming device adapted to be easilyattached to the forearm of a swimmer and to give him freer and moreefficient use of his arms and hands.

One object of this invention is to provide a swimming device which willnot only increase the eflicienc-y of a swimmer but will also permit amaximum freedom and versatility of movement with a minimum of drag.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel swimming deviceattachable to the forearm of the swimmer, having fins hinged in such amanner as to afford the swimmer maximum propulsion with a minimum ofdrag.

A further object of this invention is to provide a swimming device forattachment to the forearm of the swimmer comprising a minimum number ofparts which may be easily and economically manufactured.

Another object of this invention is to provide a swimming device forattachment to the forearm of a swimmer, having hinged tins which areadapted to swing from a fully extended lateral position for maximumpropulsion through substantially 180 degrees to a fully collapsedposition beneath the forearm.

Another object of this invention is to provide a swimming device havingmeans for securing the device to the forearm which may be easilyfastened and unfastened, and which will provide a minimum of resistanceto movement through the water.

Another object of this invention is to provide a swimming device forattachment to the forearm having fins flexibly secured on opposite sidesof the forearm along hinged lines tapering inwardly toward the wrist toprovide a substantially wedge-shaped swimming member.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the invention secured on the forearm of aswimmer with the fins laterally spread substantially in the position forobtaining maximum propulsion through the water;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the invention substantially in the sameposition as disclosed in FIG. 1, but not secured to the forearm; and

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, with the finsdisclosed in phantom in various hinged positions.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, FIG. 1 discloses aswimming device 10 as it appears properly mounted on the forearm 11 of aswimmer. It will be noted that the front end of the device 10 ispositioned slightly behind the wrist in order to permit free flexiblemovement of the wrist and hand 12, while the rear end of the device 110may terminate any-where below the elbow in order not to interfere withnormal bending of the elbow. The device 10 essentially comprises threebasic 3,107,371 Patented Oct. 22, 1963 ice parts, namely, the base orarm member 13, the fin member 14 and the arm securing means or cuff '15.

The arm member ;13 may be a single molded piece of substantially rigidmaterial, such as plastic or rubber. The side edges 17 and 18 of the armmember 13 taper inwardly toward the front or wrist end of the device 10so that the member 13 will have a wedge or trapezoidal shape. The uppersurface 19' of the member 13 has substantially the same contour as thebottom of the forearm of a swimmer. On the other hand, the bottomsurface 20 of the member #13 may be slightly curved, as shown, orsubstantially fiat. The curvature of the bottom surface 20 should not beas great as that of the upper surface 19.

The preferred form of the fin member 14 is disclosed in the drawings asa single piece of elastic material, such as rubber or plastic. The finmember 14 comprises a pair of fins 23 and 24, which may be slightlyflexible, but must be sufficiently rigid to meet water resistancewithout collapsing or substantially becoming deformed during theswimming stroke of the swimmer when maximum propulsion is desired. Theouter edges of the fins 23 and 24 may be suitably contoured, as shown inFIG. 2, to obtain a streamlining effect for the return stroke of theswimmer. The inner portion 25 of the fin member \14 has an upper surfacewhich is adapted to fit the bottom surface 20 of the member .13 so thatthe entire inner portion may be fused or otherwise made an integral partof the bottom surface 20. In this manner, the fin member 14 is connectedto the arm member 13. V

The fins 23 and 24 are connected to the inner portion 25 by means ofbinge sections or strips 27 and 28, respectively. Although the fins 23and 24, the inner portion 25 and the hinge sections 27 and 28 may allform a part of the same fin member 14, and therefore consist of the samematerial, the hinge sections 27 and 28 are sufficiently reduced in crosssection to afford complete flexibility between the fins 23 and 24 andthe inner portion 25. The hinge sections 27 and 28 are adapted to swingabout elongated hinge lines 29 and 30 (FIG. 2), which taper inwardlytoward the front of the device 10, and are substantially parallel to andspaced inwardly of the side edges 17 and 1 8 which form stops orabutment flanges 3:1 and 32 for limiting the upward or forward swingingmovement of the fins 23 and 24. The greater curvature of the uppersurface 149, as opposed to the flatter contour of the bottom surface 20,produces side portions of the member 13 substantially thicker than itsmiddle portion in order to reinforce the abutment flanges 3 1 and 32.The abutment flanges 31 and 32 have bottom srnfaces which are adapted toabut flush and firmly against the upper or front surfaces of the fins 23and 24 to stop them in their fully extended lateral position forobtaining maximum propulsion when the swimmers forearm 1.1 is drawndownwardly and rearwardly through the water.

The cuff 15 comprises a single piece of flexible solid sheet material,such as rubber, elastic webbing or other similar material, having alength, preferably coextensive with the length of the arm member 13. Asbest disclosed in RIG. 3, the middle portion 34 of the cuff 15 isadapted to fit in and be fused, glued or otherwise firmly secured in thecontoured upper surface 19 of the member 13. The outer portions of thecuff 15 are adapted to encircle and encase the forearm 11, and areprovided with overlapping edges 35 and 36, which are suitably anddetachably secured by any convenient type of fastening means, such asthe female snap fastening elements 37 and the male snap fasteningelements 38. It will noted in the drawings that a number of female snapfastening elements 37 are circumferentially spaced at differentpositions along the cuff 15 in order to permit the cuff to fit forearmsof different sizes. It will also be noted that a plurality of elements37 are used to provide the adjustable positions, rather than theelements 38, in order to reduce the number of exposed obstacles on thesurface of the cuff and therefore reduce turbulence. It is alsoimportant that the cuff 15 be of a solid material, as opposed to aplurality of longitudinally spaced straps, in order to reduceturbulence.

The operation of the invention is as follows:

Assuming that the swimmers left arm 11 is fully extended forward in thewater, the fins 23 and 24 will naturally depend downwardly by virtue ofgravity to a position such as 23, disclosed in phantom in FIG. 3, aslong as the arm 11 is not in motion. During the entire swimming strokefrom the extreme forward position of the arm 11 to its extreme trailingposition, the fins 23 and 24 will swing outwardly about the hinge lines29' and 36 until they are stopped in their laterally spread position bythe abutment flanges 31 and 32, as disclosed in solid lines in FIG. 3.Thus, the device 10 will present its maximum fin surface against theresistance of the water in order to develop maximum propulsion for theswimmer.

After the swimming stroke has been completed, any one of several returnstrokes may be employed, with a minimum of resistance from the swimmingdevice 10. If the swimmer lifts his forearm 11 above the surface of thewater on the return stroke, then the fins 23 and 24 will depend freelyfrom the device 10 until the forearm 11 re-enters the water at itsextreme forward position for the next swimming stroke. However, if thearm 11 is returned through the water, then the resistance of the waterwill force the fins 23 and 24 to swing rearwardly to positions similarto 23' of FIG. 3. For this reason, the fins 23 and 24 havecross-sections which are as nearly streamlined as practical, in order toreduce turbulent flow upon the return stroke through the water.

If the swimmer uses a return stroke which carries his arm 11 through asubstantially horizontal or lateral plane through the water so that thefront edge of his arm be comes the leading edge and the rear edge of hisarm becomes the trailing edge, then the fin 24 will be forced by theresistance of the water to swing about the hinge line 30 almost 180degrees until it assumes the phantom position 24 of FIG. 3. The trailingfin 23 would maintain its spread position in solid lines in FIG. 3. Hereagain, the return stroke of the device It) would present a minimum ofresistance to the water. As a matter of fact, the device 10 would have aplaning or sailing effect. It will be understood that the positions ofthe fins 23 and 24 will be reversed if the device 10 were secured on theright forearm.

In some instances, the latter half of the return stroke is effected bythrusting the hand 12 forward in substantially a longitudinal movement,in which case both fins 23 and 24 will depend into positionscorresponding to 23 of FIG. 3, so that the device 10 will have awedge-shape. As the arm 11 moves forward, the water will strike theouter surfaces of the depending fins 23 and 24 and tend to close thefins 23 and 24 toward each other. This effect is aided by the vacuumcreated toward the rear of the fins 23 and 24 by the water passingbeneath the inner portion 25 and between the fins 23 and 24. This typeof return stroke will produce a stabilizing effect upon the device 10.

The device 10 is also adapted for use by skin divers or scuba divers, aswell as by a surface swimmer executing the conventional strokes such asthe crawl, the back stroke or the side stroke. There are occasions inskin diving when the arms are permitted to trail by the sides of theswimmer, and only the feet are used for propulsion. In such event, thedevice 10 will be in a position upside down from those disclosed in thedrawings, permitting gravity to spread the fins 23 and 24 to the solidline positions of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, resting upon the abutment flanges 31and 32. Even though the device It] is in its fully spread position 'whenthe arms are trailing at the sides of the swimmer, they are aligned withthe direction of movement and therefore will not create anyobstructions, but will permit planing or sailing.

Another important feature of this invention is that the device it isfirmly secured to the forearm 11 by the cuff 15 leaving the hand 12completely free not only to swim, but to perform any desired normaloperations of the hand in the water. For obvious reasons, a free hand inlife saving work is of vital importance. In skin or scuba diving, thehand must be free to perform underwater work or for carrying a speargun. Moreover, in normal surface swimming, if the hand had to beemployed to hold some part of the swimming device, as in some prior artdevices, the hand would be prevented from spreading to its maximumsurface and therefore reduce the efliciency of the device.

It will be understood that the fins 23 and 24 may be made of thinnermaterial by including laterally extending reinforcing ribs, molded orotherwise formed in the material in a conventional manner.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention without departing from the spririt and scopethereof, and therefore the invention is not limited by that which isshown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only asindicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A swimming device comprising:

(a) an elongated substantially rigid member having a front end and arear end and extending substantially the full length of the forearm of awearer,

(b) said member having an upper surface contoured to fit the forearm ofthe wearer, a bottom surface and tapering side edges converging inwardlytoward the front end of said member,

(c) a pair of fins of substantially rigid material,

(d) flexible means for connecting each fin to said bottom surface alonga tapering hinge line substantially parallel to a corresponding sideedge,

(c) said side edges spaced outwardly in opposite direc tions from saidhinge lines to provide flanges to limit the upward swinging movement ofsaid fins to a laterally extending propelling position,

( each fin being adapted to swing about its hinge line through an arc ofsubstantially from said corresponding flange to said bottom surface, and

(g) means for securing said member to the forearm of the wearer.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said forearm securingmeans comprises a cuff of solid flexible sheet material having separableelongated edges adapted to overlap, said cuff being longitudinallyco-extensive with said member, means for fixing said cuff to saidmember, and means for detachably securing said edges in overlappingposition.

3. A swimming device comprising:

(a) an elongated substantially rigid member having a front end and arear end and extending substantially the length of the forearm of awearer,

(b) said member having an upper surface contoured to fit the forearm ofa wearer, a bottom surface and tapering side edges converging inwardlytoward the front end of said member,

(0) a fin member comprising a pair of substantially rigid fins, an innerportion, and a hinge section connecting each fin to opposite sides ofsaid inner portion,

(0!) means for fixing said inner portion to said bottom surface,

(e) said hinge sections being flexible and comprising hinge linestapering inwardly toward said front end and being parallel to saidcorresponding side edges,

(1) said side edges being spaced outwardly of said hinge lines to formsubstantially co-planar lateral abutment flanges to limit the upwardswinging movement of said fins,

6 (g) said flexible sections permitting said fins to swing said member,and detachable fasteners secured to said about said hinge lines insubstantially 180 arcs beoverlapping edges for mating engagement.

tween said abutment flanges and the bottom of said inner portion, andReferences Cited in the file of this patent (/1) means for securing theupper surface of said 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS member to the forearm ofthe wearer. 967,144 Bailey Aug 9 1910 4. The invention according toclaim 3 in which said 1,192,650 Leimer "July 25, 1916 fin member is asingle piece of elastic material, said hinge 1,430,600 Snapp Oct 3, 1922section havingreduced thicknesses to permit flexibility. 4,663,328Arnold Man 20 1928 5. The invention according to claim 3 in which said10 1,983,609 Hudson 11, 1934 forearm securing means comprises anelongated culf of 2,947,010 Rabin 2, 1960 solid flexible sheet materialhaving overlapping edges, 7 said cufi being co-extensive with the lengthof said mem- FOREIGN PATENTS ber, means for securing said cuifto theupper surface of 1,230,073 France Mar. 28, 1960

1. A SWIMMING DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY RIGIDMEMBER HAVING A FRONT END AND A REAR END AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THEFULL LENGTH OF THE FOREARM OF A WEARER (B) SAID MEMBER HAVING AN UPPERSURFACE CONTOURED TO FIT THE FOREARM OF THE WEARER, A BOTTOM SURFACE ANDTAPERING SIDE EDGES CONVERGING INWARDLY TOWARD THE FRONT END OF SAIDMEMBER, (C) A PAIR OF FINS OF SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID MATERIAL, (D) FLEXIBLEMEANS FOR CONNECTING EACH FIN TO SAID BOTTOM SURFACE ALONG A TAPERINGHINGE LINE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO A CORRESPONDING SIDE EDGE, (E) SAIDSIDE EDGES SPACED OUTWARDLY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM SAID HINGE LINESTO PROVIDE FLANGES TO LIMIT THE UPWARD SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID FINS TOA LATERALLY EXTENDING PROPELLING POSITION,